Reusable Seal for Beverage Container

ABSTRACT

A metal reusable lid for resealing shaped to cover the opening of an opened metal beverage container. The lid is formed by from metal and comprises a top with a lip, a bottom with an edge and a projection to create the seal, and a notch that extends from the top to the bottom at a point on the lid corresponding to a rivet in the container. When the lid is pressed over the opening of the container, the edge overlaps the opening to extend outside of the interior of the container at the opening with the notch allowing for extension of the lid around the rivet such that a portion of the top of the lid at the rivet is located beneath a ring of the rivet, and the projection fits inside the container at the opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stand alone, reusable seals for metalbeverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Metal beverage containers typically have a tab opening pivoted to thecontainer by a rivet. The tab operates to detach a part of the top ofthe container at a score line. After the tab is used to open thecontainer, the detached part cannot be repositioned to close or seal thecontainer. Without a means to reseal the container, metal beveragecontainers containing a carbonated drink must be consumed in one sittingto avoid spillage and to avoid loss of carbonation.

Various devices to re-seal a carbonated beverage have been described.U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,129 describes a reclosure cover having sidesextending downwardly over the rim of the tab finger-engaging region andhave a flanged inner periphery displaced slightly below the rim. Toclose, the tab is pivoted back to the hole and then pressed downwardlyto engage the inwardardly-facing flange of the reclosure cover with therim surrounding the opening. U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,008 describes a taperedinsert portion to snugly seal the opening in the container end. U.S.Pat. No. 4,537,326 discloses a consumer-applied flat flow through coverhaving a number of small apertures that uses an adhesive as the means bywhich the cover is attached to the container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,970discloses a protective cover for a drink opening in a liquid container.U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,801 discloses a single use flow-through cover thatis built into the container at the time of manufacture. U.S. Pat. No.5,975,327 describes a tab body with a seal opening portion, a mountingportion, a lifting portion, and at least one wing portion positionedadjacent the lifting portion. U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,830 discloses a devisethat is attached to the tab actuator. U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,861 disclosesa top for beverage containers with an opener integrated sanitary cover.U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,719 describes a cover with a body shaped anddimensioned to completely cover the hole in the top of the container.The body has a channel shaped and dimensioned to slidably receive thetab opener so that cover may be slidably installed to engage the tabopener. U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,518 discloses a rotatable cover for a tabactuated drink opening in a conventional beverage container. The coveris removable and reusable, with a bottom surface larger than the drinkopening and a recessed top portion adapted to receive and engage the tabactuator to secure it to the container.

While any of these devices may reseal a beverage container, all arerelatively expensive and inconvenient to use. Many existing devicesmarketed to reseal beverage containers actually leak. Some resealdevices are bulky and do not provide for ease of storing or stacking ofthe container. Existing resealers made of plastics or rubber typicallyadd a “taste” to the product or often crack from repeated refrigeration,damage, or exposure to sunlight. A need exists for a simple, economic,durable reusable sealing device for a metal beverage container that canreliably reseal the container opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems with present resealers for beverage containers describedcan be solved with a lid according to the present invention; morespecifically, with a metal reusable lid for resealing an opened metalbeverage container comprising a top, a bottom, and a notch.

The top of the lid is shaped to conform to the opening of the beveragecontainer. The top is essentially ovoid in shape. The length and widthof the top are slightly greater than the length and width of the openingof the container. The top comprises a manipulated lip. The lip ismanipulated by crimping, buffing rolling, roughing, blasting, and thelike to prevent injury to a user.

The bottom of the lid conforms to the opening of the beverage can and isshaped to fit within the opening. The bottom comprises an edge and aprojection. In an embodiment, the projection is a ridge, having a solidextending from the bottom continually at a point corresponding to theopening of the container. The ridge is shaped similarly to the perimeterof the lid. The ridge has two converging sides projecting from thebottom that intersect. In an embodiment, the projection is a curvilinearshape with a surface extending from a point at the interior perimeter ofthe edge. The curvilinear shape gradually increases to a pointapproximately in the center of the lid.

The notch extends from the top to the bottom at a point on the lidcorresponding to a rivet attached to the beverage container top. Thenotch is shaped for allowing the edge to extend around the rivet.

The elements of the lid are such, that when the lid is pressed over theopened opening of the beverage container, 1) the edge overlaps thecontainer opening to extend to a portion of the container proximate toan exterior side of the top of the beverage container at the opening,with the notch allowing for extension of the lid around the rivet, suchthat a portion of the top of the lid at the rivet is located beneath aring of the rivet, and 2) the projection fits inside the container atthe opening.

The lid has a length of approximately 26 mm at a longest point and awidth of approximately 17 mm at a widest point. The top is approximately1 mm thick at points opposite the edge. The two converging sides of theridge are approximately 1.5 mm apart from each other at the bottom andextend approximately 1.5 mm from the bottom to the point ofintersection. The curvilinear surface at a point approximately in thecenter of the lid has a depth of approximately 2.5 mm from a point wherethe bottom and the edge intersect.

The lid of the present invention is comprised of metal, preferablyaluminum. In an embodiment, the bottom of the lid comprises a plasticcoating. In an embodiment, the lid comprises an imprint.

The present invention is easy to apply and remove and is economic due toits small size and lack of complicated components. When in use, thepresent invention prevents leakage of the beverage from the container.

The present invention is simply placed on the opening of the beveragecontainer after opening and nudged under the rivet used to attach thetab. When a consumer wishes to drink, s/he applies a slight force to theedge of the present invention to dislodge the device and gain access tothe container contents.

As used herein, “beverage container” means the type of container havinga top end described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,448 to Clarke(“Non-detachable tab can end with large oval opening”; issued Jan. 27,1998.

As used herein, “approximately” means within plus or minus 25% of theterm it qualifies. The term “about” means between ½ and 2 times the termit qualifies.

The devices of the present invention can comprise, consist of, orconsist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of theinvention described herein, as well as any additional or optionalingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwiseuseful in compositions and methods of the general type as describedherein.

Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include every number andsubset of numbers contained within that range, whether specificallydisclosed or not. Further, these numerical ranges should be construed asproviding support for a claim directed to any number or subset ofnumbers in that range.

All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the presentinvention shall include the corresponding plural characteristic orlimitation, and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearlyimplied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

The following detailed description, which references and incorporatesthe figures, describes and illustrates one or more specific embodimentsof the invention. These embodiments, offered not to limit but only toexemplify and teach the invention, are shown and described in sufficientdetail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention.Thus, where appropriate to avoid obscuring the invention, thedescription may omit certain information known to those of skill in theart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 1 b and FIG. 1 c are bottom views of embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are sectional views embodiments of the presentinvention attached to an opened beverage container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to anopened beverage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a unitary formed metal shape. In an embodiment,the present invention is formed by stamping from a rolled metal sheet.In an embodiment, the lid is pressed from an aluminum shape. In anembodiment, the metal is aluminum. Forming from aluminum provides fordurability and flexibility at a low cost of production.

The lid shown in FIG. 1 has a top 10. The size and shape of the top 10generally correspond to the size and shape of the opened opening of thebeverage container. The top is generally planar and slightly longer andslightly wider that the opening of the beverage container, such that,the top 10 is essentially on the outside of the beverage container whenproperly positioned to reseal the container. The overall length of thetop 10 varies to conform to the shape of the opening of the container.In an embodiment, the length of the lid 10 is approximately 25-30 mm. Inan embodiment, the length of the top 10 is 26 mm. In an embodiment, thewidth of the lid 10 is approximately 10-15 mm. In an embodiment, thewidth of the top 10 is 13 mm. The overall width and length of the top 10is such that the lid, when placed over the opening of the container,does not touch the ridge (indicated by the number 27 in FIG. 3) on thecontainer top surface surrounding the opening. In an embodiment, thedepth of the top 10 is approximately 0.5-2 mm. In an embodiment, thedepth of the top 10 is approximately 1 mm. In an embodiment, the depthof the top is the maximum that allows the lid to be placed over theopening and under a ring attached to the rivet of the container.

In an embodiment, the top 10 comprises a lip 22. The lip is manipulatedto prevent injury to a user. Manipulation may be my crimping, blasting,budding, roughing, rolling and the like. In an embodiment, manipulationis any treatment to the lid that does not effect the seal. The top 10may be imprinted 26 (as depicted in FIG. 3.). The imprint 26 may be anadded element that is applied, such as by inking, decal, and the like,or may be a change to the metal surface, such as by embossing, cutting,stamping, and the like. In an embodiment, the imprint 26 is a logo.

The present invention comprises a bottom 20. The bottom conformsgenerally to the overall length and width of the top 10. The bottomcomprises an edge 21 that corresponds to the perimeter of the bottom 20.The edge 21 extends from the perimeter approximately 0.5-2 mm,preferably approximately 1 mm, such that, when the lid is in place onthe container, the edge 21 extends beyond the opened openingapproximately 0.5-2 mm, preferably approximately 1 mm, on the outside ofthe container proximate to the opening, and the remainder of the bottom20 fits within the container. The middle section of the bottom 20 maycomprise the negative image of the imprint 26.

The bottom 20 comprises a projection. As depicted in the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 b and 2 b, the projection is a curvilinear shape 27commencing at the edge 21. The curvilinear shape 27 extends from aninterior perimeter of the edge 21 to form a gradually greatercurvilinear surface increasing to a point approximately in the center ofthe lid. The curvilinear shape 27 has a depth measured from a pointwhere the bottom 20 and the edge 21 intersect ranging from the edge 27to a greatest depth of approximately 2-3 mm, preferably approximately2.5 mm at about a center of the bottom 20.

In an embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 c and 2 a, the projection is aridge 25. The ridge 25 is a solid extending from the bottom 20continually at a point corresponding to the opening of the container andthe inner perimeter of the edge 21. The ridge 21 shaped similarly to theperimeter of the bottom 20. The ridge 25 has a first and second sidethat project from the bottom 20 at a point where the bottom 20 and slanttoward each other to converge at a point approximately 1-2 mm,preferably approximately 1.5 mm from the bottom 20.

The lid comprises a notch 15. The notch 15 is located approximatelymidpoint of the length of the top 10 and extends from the top 10 to thebottom 20. The notch 15 is curved and corresponds to the rivet of thecontainer. The notch allows the edge 21 to extend outside the opening ofthe container. The notch 15 fits against the rivet and positions the top10 under a ring of the rivet and the bottom inside the opening of thecontainer.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments and examples of thepresent invention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. It will be understood that the invention is intended to coveralternatives, modifications and equivalents. The embodiments were chosenand described in order to best explain the principles of the inventionand its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in theart to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims,the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

1. A metal reusable lid for resealing an opened metal beverage containercomprising: a top, said top shaped to conform to the opening of thecontainer and having a length and a width slightly greater than theopening of the container, said top comprising a manipulated lip; abottom, said bottom conforming to the opening and shaped to fit withinthe opening, said bottom comprising an edge and a projection; a notch,said notch extending from the top to the bottom at a point on the lidcorresponding to a rivet attached to the container top, said notchshaped for allowing the edge to extend around the rivet; wherein, whenthe lid is pressed over the opened opening of the container, 1) the edgeoverlaps the container opening to extend to a portion of the containerproximate to an exterior side of the opening with the notch allowing forextension of the lid around the rivet such that a portion of the top ofthe lid at the rivet is located beneath a ring of the rivet, and 2) theprojection fits inside the container at the opening.
 2. The lid of claim1 wherein the length of the lid is approximately 26 mm at a longestpoint and the width of the lid at a widest point is approximately 17 mm.3. The lid of claim 1 wherein the projection is a ridge, said ridge asolid extending from the bottom continually at a point corresponding tothe opening of the container, said ridge shaped similarly to theperimeter of the lid, said ridge having two converging sides projectingfrom the bottom that, at a point where the bottom and the ridgeintersect, are approximately 1.5 mm apart from each other, said ridgeextending approximately 1.5 mm from the intersection with the bottom. 4.The lid of claim 1 wherein the top is approximately 1 mm thick at pointsopposite the edge and the projection extends from the interior perimeterof the edge to form a gradually greater curvilinear surface increasingto a point approximately in the center of the lid, said projectionhaving a greatest depth of approximately 2.5 mm from a point where thebottom and the edge intersect.
 5. The lid of claim 1, wherein the top isessentially ovoid in shape.
 6. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lip ismanipulated by one of crimping, buffing rolling, roughing, and blasting.7. The lid of claim 1, wherein the metal is aluminum.
 8. The lid ofclaim 1 further comprising a plastic coating on the bottom.
 9. The lidof claim 1 wherein the lid comprises an imprint.